Lausanne Occasional Paper 2

"The Willowbank Report: Consultation on Gospel and Culture".

By

Georgan L. Redmond
Student ID: 3524969

Presented to Dr. Fred Smith

In partial fulfillment of the requirements of

Cross-Cultural Evangelism and Church Planting

ICST 650

Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary

Lynchburg, VA
February 21, 2011
 In the Lausanne Paper, you have a presentation of a strategy developed to address the

complexities of cross cultural evangelism. Grouped together in one paper is a reflection of 17

papers that pinpoint some of the delicate areas of cross cultural evangelism. The committee that

was assembled to tackle this area, intelligently and carefully, exposes some common

characteristics that exist in this context. By engaging this context they assert,” As we address

Scripture, Scripture addresses us. We find that our culturally conditioned presuppositions are

being challenged and our questions corrected. In fact, we are compelled to reformulate our

previous questions and to ask fresh ones. So the living interaction proceeds.”

The thoughts presented throughout this paper are thought provoking, insights but

simplistic. You find that the committee takes the time to relax their own presumptions to better

engage the context in which they are studying. Once again trying to stay “compelled to

reformulate” their question in order to bring forth change. You see the constant battle with old

traditional ways that have proven themselves to be outdated versus improvements upon new

missionary’s tactics. By implementing the new tactics you thus see their approach to the dynamic

equivalence being able to “convey to contemporary readers meanings equivalent to those

conveyed to the original readers.”

The Lausanne Movement fosters a constant state of growing that will bring

enlightenment to any culture. As they propose the different concepts to approach all people

without trying to defame one’s culture you find a true sense of evangelism. They assert, that

Sometimes people resist the gospel not because they think it false but because they perceive it as

a threat to their culture, especially the fabric of their society, and their national or tribal

solidarity. To some extent this cannot be avoided. Jesus Christ is a disturber as well as a
peacemaker. He is Lord, and demands our total allegiance. Thus, some first-century Jews saw the

gospel as undermining Judaism and accused Paul of “teaching men everywhere against the

people, the law, and this place,” i.e., the temple (Acts 21:28). Similarly, some first-century

Romans feared for the stability of the state, since in their view the Christian missionaries, by

saying that “there is another King, Jesus,” were being disloyal to Caesar and advocating customs

which it was not lawful for Romans to practice (Acts 16:21; 17:7). Still today Jesus challenges

many of the cherished beliefs and customs of every culture and society.

The Lausanne Movement counteracts the myth that some come to the table with by emphasizing

the features of culture that can be transposed with the message of Christ. The goal is to make

sure that “Conversion does not unmake; it remakes.” This statement brings a sense of clarity that

must be wrestled with by all missionaries.

I personally believe this may be one of the greatest tools for cross cultural or evangelism that I

have read. The concepts introduced here placed high priority on the integrity of the Scripture

without being extreme dogmatist. Due to the nature of conversion we must at times handle it

with kid gloves but adult minds. Because of the radical nature of conversion, we see the need for

a total change but at the end of the day we must be clear that it is up to Christ to work through

the wiring of an individual. The insight that the Lausanne Movement developed through this

paper provided ways to handle the delicate issues without disrespecting in the same tone.

I think the Lausanne Movement also profusely dealt with the culture of church not being so

preoccupied with making clones but making indigenous churches and believers that served God

in a familiar context. I believe this adds a valid reason why we must engage culture as we engage

others with the gospel. Without properly adjusting to the culture we could possibly offend the
very one we are going to evangelize with the gospel. We in turn would shoot ourselves in the

foot before we even get started.

The Ambassador, a member of the Christian rap group Cross Movement laments,

“Missionaries have been known to go to other countries to transmit Christianity only to transmit

more than their theology, but also their cultural preferences. The church is in danger of doing

the same thing with regards to Hip Hop. They are trying to give a new generation their Christian

faith as well as their “church” culture. Even worse, this narrow-mindedness often leads to a

failure to accept the hip hoppers who are in Christ and their ministry contributions. This is a sad

commentary, but even sadder, it’s not new.” The Lausanne Movement brings to the forefront the

need to present Christ to culture properly without taking away the power of the scriptures.

Through this presentation they have motivated me to find new ways to engage other cultures and

ethnicities.